With so much volatility in today’s world oil market, many are seeking out alternative fuels to power cars. Some, including corn producers, have touted ethanol is a possible alternative fuel. Ethanol, or ethyl alcohol, is made by fermenting and distilling simple sugars from corn. Ethanol is sometimes blended with gasoline to produce gasohol. Ethanol-blended fuels account for 12 percent of all automotive fuels sold in the United States, according to the Renewable Fuels Association. In very pure forms, ethanol can be used as an alternative to gasoline in vehicles modified for its use.

Lets calculate how much corn you would have to grow to produce enough ethanol to fuel a trip across the country: Estimate miles from Los Angeles to New York would be 2,774 miles. A typical Automatic ethanol car can get 20 miles to the gallon. 

2,774 miles / 20 miles per gallon = 138.7 gallons

(METRIC: 4,464.2 km / 8.5 km per liter = 525.2 liters)We know that it takes 26.1 pounds of corn to make 1 gallon of ethanol, so we can now calculate how many pounds of corn we need to fuel the ethanol vehicle on its trip:

138.7 gallons * 26.1 pounds = 3,620.07 total pounds of corn
(METRIC: 525.2 liters * 3.13 kg = 1,642 kg)You will need to plant a little more than a half an acre of corn to produce enough ethanol to fuel your trip, and this is just ONE car. 

Ethanol was never meant to be the answer, its only a stepping stone which should have occurred long long ago. With a global food crisis in effect, there is need for education and understanding of this fuel source and others coming along the way. 

source: How much corn would I need to grow in order to produce enough ethanol fuel to drive my car across the country?

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